Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Board of Education Finance and Audit Committee met Oct. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. Roll Call 

Chairperson Chris Benson brought the meeting to order at 9:39 a.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present with four members. Chair Benson and Dr. David Lett were physically present, and Dr. Nike Vieille and Roger Eddy attended via video conference. Chair Benson verified that each member could hear one another and follow the discussion, and that they were able to testify.

Committee Members Present 

Chairperson Chris Benson

Roger Eddy

Dr. David Lett

Dr. Nike Vieille

Committee Members Absent 

None

Other Board Members Present 

Dr. Steven Isoye, Chair of the Board

Staff 

Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent

Kirsten Parr, Board Services Coordinator

Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent

Dr. Brenda Dixon, Research and Evaluation Officer

Tassi Maton, Internal Audit Officer

Dr. Erica Thieman, Director of Standards and Instruction

Carisa Hurley Davis, Director of Early Childhood

Amanda Elliott, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs

Jason Helfer, Ph.D, Deputy Officer, Instructional Education

Krish Mohip, Deputy Officer, Operational Education

Luke Corry, Senior Policy Specialist, Finance

Melissa Oller, Operating Officer

Robert Wolfe, Financial Officer

Scott Harry, Director of Budget

Irma Snopek, Policy and Communications Officer

Oriana Wilson, Executive Director of Programs

Jeremy Duffy, Legal Officer

II. Public Participation 

There was no public participation.

III. Approval of Minutes: September 8, 2022 

Dr. Lett made the motion for the Finance and Audit Committee to approve the September 8, 2022, meeting minutes. Mr. Eddy seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

IV. Closed Session 

Dr. Lett moved that the committee go into closed session for the following exception items:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

B. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

Dr. Lett further moved that committee members may invite anyone they wish to be included in this closed session. Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.

The open meeting recessed at 9:42 a.m. and reconvened at 12:23 p.m.

V. Presentation 

A. Evidence-Based Funding Spending Plan and Redesign

Given time limitations, this presentation was postponed to the next meeting.

VI. Review of Contracts and Grants Over $1 Million – for October Approval 

A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of the Release and Award of the Fiscal Year 2023 Elementary and Secondary Relief Digital Equity Formula Grant

Dr. Lett asked if the implementation timeline for the grant was as long as the federal funding deadline would allow, and Dr. Thieman confirmed it was.

B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Sole Source Grant to Community Education Network – It Takes a Village Family of Schools

There were no questions on this item.

VII. Review of Contracts and Grants Over $1 Million – for November Approval 

A. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of the Contractual Monitoring Expansion

B. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of the Release and Award of FY 2024 Proposals Early Childhood Block Grant - Prevention Initiative 0-3, Preschool for All 3-5, and Preschool for All Expansion Years 3-5 and Extension of FY 2023 Current Grantees of Early Childhood Block Grant - Prevention Initiative 0-3, Preschool for All 3-5, and Preschool for All Expansion Years 3-5

C. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Preschool for All/Preschool for All Expansion Monitoring

D. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Request for Sealed Proposals for Early Childhood Community Systems Development

E. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Request for Proposals for Early Childhood Block Grant: Preschool for All/Preschool for All Expansion Training and Technical Assistance: Three to Five Years

Given time limitations, discussion on these items was delayed to the next meeting.

VIII. Internal Audit Updates 

A. Current Audits

i. FY 2022 Financial and Compliance Audit

ii. FY 2022 Statewide Single Audit

Ms. Maton said that there were no new updates, and that audits were still underway.

IX. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda 

Items not discussed at this meeting were anticipated for the next meeting.

X. Next Meeting: November 1, 2022 

XI. Adjourn 

Dr. Lett moved to adjourn. Dr. Vieille seconded the motion, and it passed by unanimous roll call vote. Chair Benson adjourned the committee at 12:29 p.m.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/20221006-FA-Minutes.pdf